The start of the Bastille Day Duck Dodge was a classic drifter with one start trying like mad just to clear the line for the next. Full Moon was well-positioned on starboard tack with just a tiny bit of wind until encountering a parked Catalina 36 to “leeward.” With other boats drifting down from “windward,” crew Randy “Grand Prix” Olsen, Sara “Game Night” Skinner, Dave “Scotch” Pulsifer, Daniel “Bartender” Mengedoht, and skipper John “Lucky” Mengedoht were soon engaged in a game of bumper boats. Once the fending off was accomplished, though, a line of wind appeared, reaching out for Full Moon’s bow. It wasn’t huge but it was enough to allow Full Moon to accelerate away from the pack and into a solid second place, not far behind a well-sailed red Santana 20.
Rounding the AGC buoy in heavy traffic (from second start!), the mighty Equalizer was launched for the long close reach up the lake. The wind angle didn’t favor the spinnaker but the greater sail area was useful in the still-light breeze. Approaching the “Freeway” buoy, it appeared that only the always-competitive Tuesday might be a threat. Sure enough, as the breeze went light and unpredictable, Tuesday got by but Full Moon got some good shifts to return the favor and round the “Aurora” buoy comfortably ahead.
Unfortunately, the wind angle to the finish was another reach and Full Moon was unprepared to relaunch the Equalizer. Caught up with battling a J-22 and sailing a little too far to windward, Full Moon allowed Almond Joy and a blue J-24 to get by to leeward. Surely the J-24 was from second start? Nope. Duck Denied – but Full Moon was a close fourth place!
